Former Wisconsin linebackers Leo Chenal and Maema Njongmeta swapped jerseys at Arrowhead Stadium after the Kansas City Chiefs win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon.
Chenal’s Chiefs outdueled Njongmeta’s Bengals 26-25 on a last-second field goal. Nonetheless, the two shared a moment of Badger brotherhood on the field shortly after the game ended.
Chenal, who registered seven tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass deflections against Lamar Jackson’s Ravens in Week 1, notched six tackles and one forced fumble this week against the Bengals. Njongmeta did not record a defensive statistic, but appeared on a few special teams sequences.
Despite differing graduation years, the two spent three seasons together at Wisconsin from 2019-2021. Chenal accounted for 180 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 29 games during that span.
Njongmeta played in six games during Chenal’s final year in Madison (2021) before leading UW with 95 tackles in 2022. He then started for the Badgers again in 2023 in the first year under new coach Luke Fickell.
Here is their jersey exchange.
Chenal will continue to serve as one of the Chiefs’ most valuable defensive assets during the team’s quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl.
Njongmeta, on the other hand, earned his spot on the Bengals’ 53-man roster towards the tail of August after a stellar preseason. He tallied 29 tackles in three games, including 18 solo tackles, and added two pass deflections.